Hundreds of stores offer free shipping on Wednesday

More than 900 stores will be participating in Free Shipping Day on Wednesday Dec. 18. (Source: FreeShippingDay.com)

(RNN) - With fewer than 10 days until Christmas, many are scrambling to finish – or start shopping. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, hundreds of retailers will be participating in Free Shipping Day to help you save some holiday cash.

More than 900 merchants are offering free shipping for the day – with no minimum order requirement. And not only are you getting free delivery, but you're also guaranteed to receive the packages by Christmas Eve.

If the deal sounds too good to be true, fear not - stores such as Lord & Taylor, JCPenney, and Coach are all participating in Free Shipping Day this year,

Luke Knowles, along with his wife created the year-round website FreeShipping.org in 2007, but thought a free shipping day before the holidays would be a great opportunity for consumers and stores.

"In an abrupt brainstorm, he thought merchants would relish the opportunity to extend the online holiday shopping season, which is fast becoming the preferred mode of buying for those who dread crowded malls and rainchecks," the website says.

According to the website, Free Shipping Day accounted for more than $1 billion in sales during the past two years, leading it to become the third-heaviest day for online shopping in the U.S.

Monday Dec. 16 was the busiest shipping day of the year. UPS said 34 million packages were picked up and some 29 million were delivered by Tuesday Dec. 17.

There are some important dates to remember to make sure your gift arrives in time for Christmas.

If you're shipping with the United States Postal Service, you should have your packages ready to go out by Dec. 20-23, depending upon which service you choose, for delivery by Christmas Eve.

Dec. 20 – First Class Mail

Dec. 21 – Priority Mail

Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express

If you're shipping with UPS, you should have your packages ready to go out by Dec. 13-23, depending upon which service you choose, for delivery by Christmas Eve.

Dec. 13-23 – UPS Ground (packages shipped via UPS Ground take from one to seven business days to deliver)

Dec. 21 – UPS Second Day Air

Dec. 23 – UPS Next Day Air

If you're shipping with FedEx, you should have your packages ready to ship by Dec. 12-25, depending upon which service you choose, for delivery by Christmas.

Regardless of which service you choose, keep in mind that, if possible, you should allow an extra day or two (or more, when possible) for shipping, because inclement weather could pop up and delay the shipment of your package.

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